Amalgamator.



G. H. Looxs. AMALGAMATOR.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. 1908.

920,88). Patented May 4, 1909.

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G. H. LoUoKs. AMALGAMATOR. APPLIcArIoN' FILED MAY 11, 190e.

Patented May 4, 1909.

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GEORGE n. lLOUoKs7 or onIoAGO, ILLINOIS.

AMALGAMATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1909.

Application filed May 11, 1S08. Serial No. 432,237.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. Louons, a citizen of theUnite'd States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Imrovement in Amalgamators, ofV which the iollowng is a speciiication.

. My invention. relates particularly to amalgainators for use in connection with free and attendant parts being shown vin-elevation; Fig. 2, a broken plan view with the hopper removed; Fig. 3, an enlarged broken vertical sectional view showing the ore-chute and attendant parts, Figs. 4 and 5, sections taken as indicated at the corresponding Vlines on Fig. 3 and Fig. 6, a broken planview of the bracket which supports the vertically disposed ore-chute employed and the attendant parts. I

In the construction illustrated, Arepresents an inclined table, or chute, over which the gangue, or tailings, pass; B, a mercury well, or basin, connectedwith the upper or front end section of said table and equipped with a steam-jacket B1, C, a -vertically disposed ore-chute located above the well B and equipped at its upper'endwith a removable hopper C1; C2, avwater vjacket surrounding said ore-chute, C?, la steam-jacket surrounding said water-jacket, or 'a considerable portion thereof D, a water-pipe equipped with a branch D1 communicating with the waterjacket C2 and with a branch D2 communicating with the mercury well, E, a steam-pipe equipped with a branch E1 communicating withthe steam-jacket C3' and with a branch E2 communicating with the steam-jacket B1; F, a mercury pocket extending transversely across the intermediate section of thetable; F1, means located above the mercury pocket F for directing a sheet, or stream, of water thereinto, thereby to force the ore through the mercury in said pocket 3 G, an amalgam roller located above the rear or lower section of the table; II, a chute or receptacle at the rear end thetable, into which particles of i amalgam-passing with the tailings may fall.

rIhe table may be of any suitable construction. As shown, it comprises a front end section a, centrally of which the mercury well B is located; an intermediate section a1 in which the transverse mercury pocket F is located; and a rear end section a2 above which the amalgam roller G is disposed.

rThe mercury well B is suspended from the lower side of the section a of the table, the section a being provided with a large circular perforation through which the ore-chute C depends. The preferred manner of constructing the mercury well and its steamjacket is -to provide a large sheet-m etal basinshaped member b which is flanged at its upper end and connected with the underside of the table-section a in any suitable manner, offset said basin-shaped member peripherally at an intermediate portion,-as indicated at b1, and provide a somewhat shorter basin-shaped sheet-metal memberf b2 lwhich extends some distance beneath the lower end ofthe member b and whose upper end is connected with the member b at theoffset portion mentioned. Murcury b3 may beplaced in the basin b, and, in operation, water btwill fill the basin above the mercury and Overow, passing down the inclined table A.. rThe steam-jacket B1 is equ'pped -with a return pipe b5, which is shown brokenly. Y

The ore-chute C, thesurrounding jackets, and the hopper may be of any suitable construction. The lower end of the Ore-chute and C3 are virtually integral with each other, v

so that they maybe lifted together from the bracket I when it is desired to remove the amalgam from the Well B. The jacket C3 is equipped at its lower end with a drain-pipe c1 adapted to discharge into the well B. Said drain-pipe may be equipped with a sto cock (not shown). The inner wall of t e jacket C, which constitutes the wall of the l. chute C, is provided near its lower end with two circular rows of perforations, or ports, c2, through which water may be discharged upon the descending pulver-ized ore -from all sides. The perforations slope downwardly and inwardly, so that the force of the water will tend to force the pulverulent ore through the mercury bath. The agitator C4 comprises a hollow ring c3 adapted to slide longitudinally with relation to the ore-chute, the outer vertical wall of said ring being provided with a series .of perforations c?, which preferably incline upwardly and outwardly somewhan; as shown in Fig. 3. The perforations c2 areferably extend obliquely through the wal oi the chute C (inner wall of the water-jacket C2), as shown in Fig. 4, so that the issiiing water encountering the falling particles of ore will .give a whirling motion thereto.. AsshowninFig, the erforations c4` likewise extend obliquely t rough the outer A.vertical vwall ofthe agitator C4., the Obliquity being in a direc-tionopposite the obliquity ozl'the erforations c2, so that the issuing water wil? intensify the rotation of the .particles .of ore, or gangue, -as they .rise

from the mercury bath. .As appearsl'rom` 55, the outer vertical .surface of the hollowy ning c3 is equipped with 'teeth c5 which shelter the pertorations c4.

The l'hollow ring 03. .of the agitator C'i is equippedvith a tubular boss, or nipple, c withwhich the branchpipe `D2 connects. The branchipe D2. passes through a guide c7 with, whic the collar cis equipped, and -a set-.scn'ewjc8 ,is provided thereat tor securing the branchfpipe D2 when it 1is desired to remove kthe ore-chute 4and attendant parts from-the mercury well. interposed 'in 'the course of the branch-,pipe D2 is., a flexible section, or hose., d., which permits the lower section of the pipe and the agitator C4 'to rise or stall, accord-ing to the height of the niercury. The several branch pi es D1, D2, El endl@2 are equipped with va ves, as shown. The branch pipes D1; and El are equipped with unions di., e, respectively, permitting thep-ipes to bedisconnected from the jackets C2 and C?.l 'lhe hose d may be disconnected when t is 4desired to lift the ore-chute and attendant `parts from -tl-ie mercury well. The ,leans F1` tor delivering a stream or sheet etwa-ter at the mercury pocket F comprises a horizontally disposed pipe f provided at Iitslower side with a slot., and a pipe f1 thro-ugh which water is :supplied to the :pine f. The n amalgam roller G is adjustab y weighted., or I'cou-nterball-anced, as shown.

Fronithe vdeser.i ption given, 'the operation will be readily understood. Free milling ore is passed in a stream from the; oreoliu=te C., and 4is struck bywater issuing from the jacket C2 throughthe gpertorations .c2 as the ore :islabout tofene'ountter the mercury. The momentum of the :talhng ore, and 'of the Water which -rissues under considerable torce from the perforations c2 is sutlicicnt. to cause the ore to descend into the mercury in the well B, from which the ore and water rise to overilow over the inclined table A. As noted, the Obliquity, or spiral arrangement, of the perforations c2 serves to give to the ore and water a whirling motion as they enter the mercury, thus insuring a thorough intermingling with the mercury. 'lhe upward inclination and spiral arrangenunt olA the perforations ci oi the agitator t tend to increase the whirling motiony and also to as sist the ore particles in rising from the well. rlhe water is kept at a high temperature by means ot the steam admitted to tht` jacket C3 and the jacket B1, so that the orc particles will be 4caused to crumble and become subdivided into minuto particles, so that particles `of gold will be liberated which would otherwise escape contact with the mercury. lt will be understood, therefore, that'. my improved machine not only may be operated to pass the ore quickly through, but that a higher percentage ot the values will bc saved than by the usual methods. When it is desired to remove the amalgam from the well B, the valves may be closed to stop the passage of water and steam, the hose d may be disconnected, the branch pipes D" and El may be separated at the unions dl and c, the set-screw cs may be turned to clamp the lower section ol the branch-pipe D2, and the section l2 of the bracket ring ll may be re moved :to enable the ore-chute and .attendant parts to be removed, thereby giving free ac cess to the mercury well.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no undue limitation should bc understood therefrom.

What l regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an amalgamator, the combination oit a mercury well, an ore-chute having its lower end presented thereto, a floating hollow Yannular member at the lower end portionof said chute h aving perfo rations through which water may issue, and a water supply pipe connected with said hollow member.

2.. ln an amalgamator, the combination of a mercury well, an ore-chute disposed above saidv well, a water-jacket surrounding said ore-chute, and having oblique ports through which water may pass from said jacket to the interior ol said chute, a st-eamjacket surrounding said watenjzwk'ct, a hollow annular member encircling the lower portion ol said chute and prmfided with por-ts, and a supply pipe connectetl with sai-d hollow member'. i

3. ln an amalgamator, the combination of a mercury well, a supporting member located some distance above the mercury well, an orerhute renmvabl'y supported on said supporting member and depending into said llO mercury well, means for delivering water to said ore-chute, a hollow annular member encircling the lower portion of said ore-chute and provided with ports, a water-supply pipe connected with said last-named member, and means connecting said hollow annular member and the supply pipe thereof with said ore-chute, for the purpose set forth.

4. ln an amalgamator, a receptacle forming a mercury-well, a substantially vertical ore-chute extending into said well, a waterjacket surrounding said chute and communicating with the interior of said chute, a steam-jacket surrounding said water-jacket, water and steam supply pipes disconnectibly joined to said jackets, and a supporting bracket provided with a separable ring encircling said last-named j acket, for the purpose set forth.

5. ln an amalgamator7 the' combination of a table7 a mercury-well sunk therein, a substantially vertical ore-chute depending into said well, a water-jacket surrounding` said chute and communicating with the interior of said chute, a steamejacket surrounding said Water-jacket, water and `steam supply pipes disconnectibly joined to said jackets, supporting means disconnectibly joined to said chute and the above-mentioned attendant parts thereof, a transverse mercurypocket in said table, and means for delivering a sheet of water upon the pulp near the upper edge of said transverse mercurypocket.

6. In an amalgamator, a receptacle forming a mercury-well, a substantially vertical ore-chute depending into said well, waterjackets surrounding said chute and communicating with the interior of said chute, a steam-jacket surrounding said water-jacket, water and steam supply pipes disconnectibly joined to said jackets, an annular agitator at the lower portion of the ore-chute within said mercury-well, a water supply pipe connected withV said agitator, a bracket having a ring encircling said steam-jacket and equipped with a removable section, and a guide carried by said bracket through which said last-named water-pipe extends, whereby said agitator may be raised from the mercury-well after the removal of said chute and the jackets carried thereby.

GEORGE H. LOUCKS.

In presence of- L. HEISLAR, R. SCHAEFER. 

